PVP-stabilized PdAu nanowire networks prepared in,different solvents endowed with high electrocatalytic activities for the oxidation of ethylene glycol and isopropanol

Solvents play a key role in controlling the fabrication and modification of nanoparticles. We herein demonstrated that the dispersibility, stability, morphology and structure of PdAu nanoparticles varied with the polarity, special functional groups and self-properties of solvents. The underlying causes for solvent dependence were attributed to the interactions between the solvent and PdAu nanoparticles coated with PVP. Additionally, in comparison with commercial Pd/C, the obtained PdAu nanowire networks prepared in different solvents exerted considerable high electrocatalytic activity and stability towards ethylene glycol and isopropanol electrooxidation, particular for the PdAu nanowire networks prepared in DMF, which exhibited the well-dispersed nanowire network structure with large quantity of surface active areas, superior electrocatalytic activity together with long-term stability. Our efforts not only highlighted the facile preparations of the effective PdAu nanowire networks for the potential anodic catalysts for the application of fuel cells, but also facilitated the selections of appropriate solvents for preparing valid catalysts. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.